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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 2 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 2

Written Answers - Training Courses.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

123 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the strategy in place to meet the shortfall in course places for speech therapy, occupational therapy and social work; the procedure in place in sanctioning extra places on such training courses; the reasons so few extra places have been sanctioned in recent years; and if he will undertake a review of such procedures as part of any such strategy. [12370/01]

As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Health and Children commissioned Dr. Peter Bacon and associates to undertake a workforce planning study on therapists, including occupational and speech and language therapists. This study follows the final report of the expert group on various health professions which was established by the Minister for Health and Children in accordance with Labour Court Recommendation 15515. The Higher Education Authority is represented on the steering group for the study and I understand the report is expected in the near future.

As an interim response to the shortage of occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, arrangements were made to increase the number of places offered on the relevant programmes at Trinity College, Dublin for the current academic year to 35 in the case of occupational therapy and to 29 in the case of speech and language therapy. At my Department's request, the Higher Education Authority has been exploring options for further increases and has been in touch with the Department of Health and Children regarding related issues including the question of clinical placements. Further discussions will be necessary on completion of the workforce planning study.

The position in relation to social work training places is that the intake to the relevant courses in Trinity College, Dublin and University College, Dublin was increased in October 1995. This increased intake has been maintained and a new degree course aimed at mature students was introduced by the National University of Ireland, Cork with effect from the 1999-2000 academic year. The report of the National Social Work Qualifications Board of July 2000 provides baseline information on social work posts in Ireland, based on a survey of the position as at 1 September 1999. The survey found there were not enough qualified social workers available to fill posts and that an increase in the number of graduates from professional social work courses would be required in order to meet future demand.

My Department has held discussions with both the Department of Health and Children and the Higher Education Authority regarding the possibility of expanding the output of qualified social workers to meet the identified shortfall in social work graduates. The report outlines how any increase in training places is intrinsically linked to practice placement opportunities. Quality practice placements are at the core of social work training and constitute some 50% of course time. The report notes that there is a crisis in supply of practice placements due to a lack of formalised structures and resources. I understand that officials of the Department of Health and Children have been pursuing this issue.

Proposals for increasing the intake into the relevant courses at University College, Dublin, University College, Cork and Trinity College, Dublin for the next academic year are currently being considered by the Higher Education Authority.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to liaise with my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, in order to ensure an adequate supply of speech therapists, occupational therapists and social workers.

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